Fred Thompson on Welfare & Poverty

Former Republican Senator (TN)

1990s welfare reform worked because it empowered states

[In the 1990s Senate] we were warned about the welfare reform bill--a fundamental commitment would be abandoned and, among state governments, a “race to the bottom” would begin. But key to our approach were elements of welfare reform
that had proved successful in various states. The result was one of the great political successes of the 1990’s, because Washington--for once--had the good sense to learn from states and empower them in return.

Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers.

Vote on a procedural motion to allow consideration of an amendment to express the Sense of Congress that the president should approve the waivers requested by states that want to implement welfare reform.